Extension couch



m. F. BAYER.

EXTENSION COUCH. l APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9. 1919.

1,418,655. Patented May 30,1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

M. F. BAYER.

ExENsmN coucH.

APPUCATON FILED DEC. lg, l9|9. 1,418,955. Patented May 30, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IVI. F. BAYtH.

EXTENSION COUCH. APPLICATION FILED DEc.19. 1919.

1,418,055. Patented May 30, 1922.

` M, HM).

[lll/lll.

UNIT-Eo STATES PATENT. oFFicE.

OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. v

EXTENSION coUcH.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented May 30, 1922.

Application filed December 19, 1919. lSerial No. 346,087.

A' numerous applications, has a specific application to that type of folding couch in which there are a pair of sections adapted tovnest one upon the other thereby conservin space when the couch is not in use for s eeping purposes'. s t

The principal .obj e'cts of the invention are to provide an -improved extension couchI so organized that the mechanism may be ma.

nipulated from one side only, or from either end of the couch without danger of cramping the parts, thereby insuring smooth and positive action; to provide a sliding couch of the class described in.which the mechanism can be operated with a minimum number of manipulations thereby rendering the device substantially automatic in its operation; to pro- -vide an improved-construction which shall be simple vand inexpensive to manufacture l and economical in operation, and in generalto provide a neat and practical extension couch of the character referred to.

In the drawings which show my invention as applied to a sliding couch of the two-leaf type Fig. 1 is a plan view of a couch showing the arrangement of the parts when` the couch is condensed orfolded;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the couch illustrated in Fig. -1;

Fig. 3 is a section4 taken on line 3 3 of Fs- 1;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 but showing the couch half way extended;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showin the couch fully extended;l

y ig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a of Fig. 5, and v Fig. 8 is a section taken on the l1ne 8-8 of Fig.l 7.

Referring to the drawings", it will be observed tha-tthe end frames 10 and 11 of the couch are of the continuous post type comprising posts 12 and 13 and top rail 14. The

section taken on the line 7-7 fillers 15' are supported by a bottom rail 16 which also serves to some extent to tie together the lower leg extensions of the postsv 12 and 13.

The end frames 10 and 11 constitute supports for the detachable main frame to which the stationary half' of the bed spring is secured. The spring 17, which in this -instance, is of the link fabric type, lis connected to two series of end helicals 18, said end helicals being engaged witha pair of oppositely disposed end crosspieces 19, which take the form of lengths of angle iron.

' MATTHEW r. BAYER, or KmvosHA, WISCONSIN, AssmNoR To SIMMONS co-MPANY,

The rails or stretchers of said 'stationary frame part comprise apair of angle irons 20 and 21, depressed below the level of the,

spring 17 for the purpose of permitting sag of the bed spring when occupied, and also i-n order to permit the movable frame section to slide inbetween the spring and the rails.

.In order to furnish a connection between the cross angles 19 and the rails 20 and 21, the said cross angles 19 are united by means of rivets 22, or .other approved means,I to

'vertically extending angle iron members 23 and 24,-the lower ends of which extend downwardly to connect with the upper ends of oblique braces 25 and 26, such connections being Amade by a plurality o f rivets, or other suitable uniting means.` The vertical angle irons 23 and 24 are mated with corresponding similarly arranged angle iron members 23a and 24a spaced therefrom as shown best in Figure 8 and connected thereto by being secured to the cross angles 19 in the same manner as the angle irons 23 and 24. y

. One of the said mated pairs of angle irons has its side ange extended and folded over as shown'at 27 in order to close the upper end of therectangular space located between the pairs of angle irons. The said pairs of angle irons 23 and 23", and 24 and 24a are tied together by means of stout transverse pins 28, byv means of which the frame is detachably. connected to the posts of the end frames. Such connection comprises duplex loop stamping 29, the loop of which is reduced in height and extends through an aperture in the side of the hollowed bed post 12. lSaid stamping 29 is rigidly secured in position by means of a taper key or wedge 30 inserted inthe loop, distortion of the relativelythin Wall. ofthe post 12, being prevented by an outer face plate 31 and an -inner plate 32.

' i' By' reference to'Figure 6 iii-win be 05"-,

. served that'the stamping 29 is made with a i supporting frames,

l ferent designs of end frames tobe u sed 1n notch 33 somewhat inclined so as to exert 'a vwed-ging actionon the connecting pin 28 and `.thus forcing the outer edges of the angle iron members 23 and 23, tightly into engagementr with .the face plate 31.

' 1t willbe readily observed that by reason of the constructionabove described,` it is readily possible and convenient to detach the end frames of the bedstead-from the spring thereby enabling difcon'nection' with Vthe same uniform construction of spring, frames, andassociated parts.

. angles 34 are maintaine "tance apart by means of alongi-tudlnally ex- 25 The fabric on the folding 'or' extensible' section of the couch is connected to a pair of cross angles 34, the outerends of which are bent down as shown at 35 to'cons'titute legs, which are fitted with suitable casters 36- to facilitate free sliding movement of the extension section. The inner ends of the cross the. correct distending rail 37 of angle ironcross section,

` theends of which are bent up obliqnely ,as

aor

to the horizontal the inner ends of the cross pieces 34 of the extension'section are Iequipped with rollers 42, journaledon'pins 43 rigidly secured to the' end siof the said crossl pieces 34. Said rollers 42 operate on tracks formed byfthe -inwardly ,projecting horizontal. flanges of .transversely extending angle irons 44 vertically beneath the cross. angle irons 19. The saidangle irons' 44- are united to the vertically extending angle iron members 23 and 23a and 24 and 24a in substantially the same-manner as the 'angle irons 19, but in reversed relation as shown clearly in Figs. Gland-7. O .2 4`

ln'order to bring v'the two sections of fab` positionwhen the couch-is extended, I'prefer to mount a short raised trackbar 45 at f to Fig..`7.that the edges incline 46 and elevate the inner end o the outerends of the track angles 44, so that, aslshown vbest in Figsr and 7 when the couch is extended, the roller will run u the folding couch section into the position shown, wherein it will be seen by reference of the yfabrics of the two sections `are vertically separatedfby a distance -barely equal to the diameter of the helical. l y

In order to assure a depression of the top by a singleV having its frontend connected the ing the movable section of the folding fabric-section suicientlyto".

enable same to slide conveniently under the fxedsectionwhen the couch isbeing folded, a long oppositely disposed track bar 47 is mounted on the underside of the horizontal ange of the' upper cross angles. 19, to which fthe stationary fabric isconnected. It will be obvious that. the outer; end 48 of said upper track bar 47 must satop short ofthe Y inner end of the short track bar 45 and be suitably inclined'to enable the roller 42to switch from its upper toits lower position at the commencement of the folding movement.

Novel .means are employed to effect rapid,

convenient, and what inatlc foldln comprlse a .of the couch. Sucht. means 'simple manipulation serves either to .extend or foldthe couch as the case may be. Such means comprise as one of ser may be termed, auteoot operative member, which its principal elements a' torsion shaft.49 extending longitudinally of the couch within the angle of the rail 20, and mounted to rotate in suitable bearings formed 'in the lower'ends of the vertical angles 23. On each end of said shaft, is keyed a vhub50 from which extends'an arm 51, said arm to thepin 43 by means of a leg'52. Means, forinstance,

a strong ytorsion spring 53 are employed torsion shaft preferably ateach end of the 49 to cause saidshaft 49 to rotate in a direction to lift the front end of'the arm 51. Said spring surrounds the-shaft 49 and has one of its ends hooked under the edge1 of y the rail 20 as Ashown at 54, its other end being extended forwardly as shown at 55, and hooked under the lower edge of the arm 51 as shown at 56. In order to apply manipulating pressure conveniently to the arm 51, the latter is equipped with a pair of rods or bars 57 and 58, the upper ends of said bars 57 and 58 being spaced apart and united tothe arm 51, while the lower ends are brought together Aand. bent out horizontally as shown at 59 in order which is described,'and assuming that it is desired to extend the couch from the position ric more nearly 1nto the same horizontalA shown in Fig. 3 to the.' position shown in Fig. 5, the operator' planes a foot on the pedal 59 and presses down smartly. The effect is two-fold. First; It naturally causes thearm 51 to swing down into substantially the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby drawward by the links 52,. inl addition to which the tension of spring 55 is substantially increased, thereby causing the free end of the force when the `foot is removedy from the pedal. i

In practice, the momentumV acquired by to afford 4a support for the foot of the operator.

.In operating the automatic mechanism of the couch fori `arm 51' to press upwardly with increased the movable section during the initial pedal `operated half of its operative movements is amply suiicient to carr it beyond the dead center position of the v'ink 52 so that after the foot has been removed, the bars 51 and 52 function as a tog le. In straightening out the toggle the spring 53 forces the movable section to complete its outward movement and come to rest in the position shown in Fig. 5. f

When the couch is fully extended, the arm 51 and the link 52 are in substantial alignment as shown in Fig. 5, excess upwar movement of the arm 51 being prevented by a soft rubber bumper 60 which eng-'sitges the underside of the track angle 44. ence, it will be seen that when the couch is folded, it is locked in such position and cannot be unlocked except by operation of the pedal.

It will be manifest in View of the above description of the operation, the same result, but in reverse direction, is secured if the edal is pressed when the couch is extended.

n that case, the first portion of the movement will be under the influence of the footapplied pressure and the inward movement will be completed by the spring. In either case, the foot should p-referably be removed entirely from the pedal as soon as the latter has reached its limit of downward movement, thereby enabling the spring to perform its duty unrestricted.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a folding couch, the combination of a stationary mattress frame section, and a movable mattress frame section slidable with reference to the stationary section, a manually controlled arm mounted to swing on the stationary section, spring means opposing swinging movement of said arm, and means connecting the outer end of said arm to the movable section.

2. In a folding couch, .the combination v of a plurality of sections for supportingthe mattress, one of said sections being sli able relative to the other section, an arm pivotally mounted on the relatively stationary section, a spring always tending to rotate said arm in one direction only, and a link loperatively connecting the end of said arm tress section, another mattress section horizontally slidable on said frame, and adapted when extended to form with the first stationary section, a mattress support of the desired width, a horizontal shaftarranged lengthwise and towards the rear-of the'stationary frame, and adapted to rotate thereon, an arm rigid with said shaft, and eX- tending forwardly below the plane of the stationary mattress section, a spring tend ing to elevate the forward end of said arm, a link connecting the forward end of said arm t0 the rear end of the sliding section, and a means for effecting manual rotary movement of said shaft to depress the-,forward end of said arm.

4. In a-folding couch, the combination of a stationary frame section a movable frameI sliding movement of said sliding section.

6. In a folding couch, the combination of a pair of sections, one movable with reference to the other, toggle members connected respectively to the two4 sections, manual means for operating said members for effecting an initial relative movement of said sections and a spring for completing said movement.

7. In a folding couch, the combination of a stationary section a movable section, a manually controlled arm mounted to swing on said statonary section to effect relative movements of said sections in either of two directions, a spring opposing 'the initial portion of the movement in either direction, and a link connecting the outer end of said arm to the movable section. l

8. In a folding couch, the combination of a stationary mattress frame section, and a movable mattress frame sectionarranged to slide and telescope with reference to the stationary section, an arm arrangedto pivot on said stationary section on an axis arranged lengthwise of the stationary frame section, and at the rear thereof below thel mattress surface,l the arm extending forwardly, a spring tending constantly to elevate the front end of the arm, a link of substantially the same length as the arm, connecting the forward end'of said arm to the rear of the sliding mattress section, and a manually controlled member for depressing said arm against the action of said spring, said spring serving to oppose the initial portion of the folding or unfolding movements ofthe couch, but to assist in the completion of the subsequent lportion of each of said movements.

MATTHEW F. BAYER.

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